Australian female journalist officially detained in China On charges of national security threats Making relations between countries even worse
Cheng Lei / SCMP
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On February 8, 64 news agencies Reuters Reported that Maris Payne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia. It has revealed that 46-year-old Australian journalist Cheng Lei has been officially arrested in China after six months in custody on suspicion of illegally handing over state secrets to foreign countries.
Cheng Lei is a broadcaster of CCTV’s English-language channel, China’s largest state media and a well-known broadcaster on the CGTN English-language channel. Ng Lei was detained in August 2020.The Australian government regularly raised serious concerns about Mrs Cheng’s detention. This includes welfare concerns and conditions of detention, Payne said.
Marise Payne / SCMP
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In recent years Tensions between Australia and China are high. Australia has called for an international investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 epidemic. China responded with trade retaliation.
Payne said authorities had made six visits to Cheng Lei during her recent detention in late January, in the days following Cheng Lei’s detention (first in August). Publicly disclosed Two Australian foreign correspondents flew out of China with assistance from Australian consular officers. After both reporters were investigated by the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the Chinese Foreign Ministry later said. The Australian security agency has questioned Chinese journalists working in Australia.
SCMP
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Mrs. Cheng Lei was born in Hunan Province. People’s Republic of China Later, at the age of 10, she had to accompany her father to Australia. Because her father continued her doctorate studies. Later, she earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, however, she preferred her career in journalism and language. Therefore practicing until obtaining an English-Chinese translation certificate
In 2002 she joined the media in China. He was granted Australian citizenship in 2003 before being detained. She worked as a news broadcaster for CCTV and CGTN, the major Chinese state media’s English-language news channel. She has two children living in Australia.
